I walked into the house with little Neaveh in my arms. I couldn't wrap my brain around the fact that I was a father now, not just a father, I was a single father. To a beautiful baby girl who looks just like her mother. I felt so bad for Neaveh, because she's going to have to grow up without a mother. This wasn't any worse for me then Maria died. We just looked at each other blankly. This is the longest I've been able to look at her without crying. She wrapped her little fingers around one of my fingers. She was so small.

I put little Neaveh in one of the two cribs in the baby's room. She looked so peaceful and innocent and she just slept. If Dakota was a baby she'd look like the Neaveh does. I walked out of the room and entered Dakota's and my room. I just sat on the bed. I was alone. And I didn't know this first thing about being a father. The doctors tried to help, but of course they didn't. I really wish I didn't have so much unprotected sex with Dakota, then maybe she'd still be here... But I also wouldn't have Neaveh.

Some more tears rolled down my face. How am I supposed to raise this little baby girl? The door bell rings, I whip the tears of my face and look in the mirror to see if someone could tell I was crying. My eyes were bloodshot red, it was a scary sight but I decided to open the door anyway. What else was I supposed to do. I see the blue hero Sonic the Hedgehog.

"What do you want Sonic?" I sighed as I saw Amy behind Sonic.

"You've been crying...We heard about what happened... I'm so sorry Shadow!" Amy ran up to me and hugged me. This isn't what I wanted. I patted Rose's back a few times.

"Me too..." I pushed Amy off of me. "Well, if thats all you have to say... bye..." I was just about to close the door on them when-

"Wait!-" Sonic said. "Being a single father can't be easy, So we just wanted you to know that if you ever need any help with the baby we are here. You can just give us a call, we'd love to help..." Sonic smiled. It was nice of them but It really wasn't necessary. I was going to take care of Neaveh my way.

"Thank you... but I'll be ok. Don't worry about me, just worry about yourselves. Bye guys..." And with that the door was shut. I didn't want to talk to them anymore. I couldn't. Later on that day Rouge came over. She said around things the same lines as Sonic and Shadow.

"Thanks Rouge but I really don't need your sympathy..." I sighed... I was beyond upset at this point. I didn't want to see or talk to anyone but they kept coming like I was a lost little puppy.

"Wait... Shadow... can I... can I see her?" Rouge asked. Why did she want to see Neaveh?

"Come in..." I said softy as I showed her into the baby's room. Where half was pink and the other half was blue. "We thought we were going to be a cute family... that's shot down now..."

"Oh my god, Shadow she's beautiful... " Rouge smiled while adoring the fragile little hedgehog.

"Isn't she?" I knew Neaveh was gorgeous, she got it from her mother. But I wondered what did she inherit from me?

"She looks just like-"

"I know..." I sighed. Neaveh starts moving around her crib and the next thing I know Neaveh is balling out in sobs. "Why is she crying?" I asked while I tried to pick her up and rock her but it just made her louder.

"Maybe she's hungry, did the doctors give you anything for her?" Rouge asked over the crying baby.

"There are some bottles in the fridge. Hurry!" I said while rocking Neaveh more and more but it just seemed to make her more upset. Rouge came back in with a bottle of milk in her hand which I grabbed and put in Neavehs mouth. Silence. Finally. That was the first time she ever cried before. At least since we got home from the hospital.

"I know you can make a great dad Shadow, you'll be better at it then you think. You just gotta get the swing of things. And she won't be a baby forever..." Rouge reminded me while I watched Neaveh suck on her little bottle with a huge smile on her face. It was very cute.

"Thanks Rouge..." I smiled along with Neaveh for the first time in four days since Dakota was with me. "I don't know what I'm doing..." I admitted to Rouge. Was I really up to being a single father? Me? Shadow? Shadow the Hedgehog. The ultimate life forum. I didn't asked for this. I thought I would have Dakota by my side helping with the baby.

Finally little Neaveh was done eating and she pushed the bottle away from her mouth. "You finished little buddy?" I smiled and then Neaveh started crying and screaming and kicking again. Crap. "What now?"

"You have to burp her!" Rouge explained to me.

"Burp her? What how?" I panicked I didn't like seeing this little baby girl so upset.

"let me do it... here I'lll show you..." Rouge let our her arms to take Neaveh, I was hesistant to give Rouge my baby but she is already a mom, to a beautiful three year old girl. I had no choice but to trust her... If she could make Neaveh stop it would be worth it...So I carefully handed screaming Neaveh over to Rouge.

"Be careful..." I warned because Neaveh was so small, she could break so easily. That was my biggest fear. Neaveh is the only reason why I am still here.

"I will..." Rouge held Neaveh over her shoulder and gently patted the little hedgehog on the back until she let out some cute little noises and stopped crying again. "See? That's how its done. She should be ready to go back to sleep... and in a few hours you're gonna need to change her diaper"

"Crap..." I said I as took my little calm hedgehog back from the bat and put her down in her crib where she peacefully closed her eyes. "Thank you Rouge, I don't know where I would be if you didn't come today..."

"Anytime." Rouge smiled. "I better get going before Knuckles worries. I know if Knuckles was in your place, he would need a lot of help raising Miracle." Rouge said. I wished it was Knuckles instead of me. I said thanks one more time and Rouge left. I was alone again... but I had my baby daughter in another room... Daughter... I had a daughter... I couldn't wrap my brain around it. I knew it was going to be really hard to take care of her but I have to keep my promise to Dakota...

I don't even know how I fell asleep that night. But I do know I was awoken by small faint screams and cries, It was Neaveh. I run over to the Neavehs room and pick her up and start rocking her. "calm down Neaveh, Daddy's here..." But with that she just kept crying and I smelted something nasty. Crap I had to change her. Shit why didn't I pick up any diapers at the store? Well it was 3 am and no stores were open. I laid screaming Neaveh down on the couch and removed her diaper and found the surprise in it and threw it away... I began to panic, and I ran into my closet and grabbed one of my white T's. I did the best I could to wrap it around Neaveh without it being uncomfortable for her. She looked really silly but she stopped crying and I was tired. I picked Neaveh up and began rocking her slowly. She let out a few giggles which was so cute and I smiled.

"I'll never let anything happen to you Neaveh..." I said but she couldn't understand me either way. I gave her a kiss on top of her little purple quills. I walked back into her room and put her down in crib again. "Sweet dreams" I sighed as I ran back to my bed and plopped. I was drained and I didn't know the first thing about being a daddy. Which reminds me, I need to pick up some diapers in the morning. Great.

I couldn't get back to sleep, all I could think about was Dakota, and how much I missed her. Shit, I started crying again. This is worse then when Maria died. Where are you now Dakota? I miss you. Its unbearable... I need you... What am I going to do with out you?